Dr. Cherise Smith, Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies and Affiliated Faculty in Art History, consulted with designer Gabriela Hearst who dressed Questlove, Chris Rock, and Rashid Johnson at this year's Met Gala. Alongside Dr. Rikki Byrd, Assistant Professor of Visual Culture Studies in the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Smith was consulted on the historical context of this year's theme, Black dandyism, and "its significance as a repurposing, a refashioning and a rebuke against the status quo," according to Gabriela Hearst.
Questlove's look, which featured over 30,000 pearls, was featured in Vogue, where Hearst talked more about the collaboration: “Dr. Byrd and Dr. Smith taught us about the signifiers of our designs in the context of Black dandyism,” says Hearst in Vogue. “That gave birth to the concept of taking something classic like pinstripes, and reimagining it in a way that would celebrate Questlove’s brilliance.”
For Chris Rock's look, Hearst began with the idea of a simple white suit. Dr. Smith and Dr. Byrd "shared the work and imagery of Harlem Renaissance performer Gladys Bentley and her impeccable white tailoring, as well as the powerful life-sized self-portrait of visual artist Barkley L. Hendricks, in which he wears a perfectly tailored white suit."
Read more about each look and Dr. Smith's contributions:
"Essence Fashion Diary: Get Ready With Chris Rock For The 2025 Met Gala" for Essence